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Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects has been appointed to lead the restoration of the Balkerne water tower in Colchester, known locally as Jumbo.

The Grade II* listed structure, decommissioned in 1984, is to become a fully accessible destination venue with visitor experience and restaurant. The aim is to produce a commercially viable operation which pays for the building’s upkeep once it has been restored.

Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects has been appointed to the project by North Essex Heritage, which secured a 150-year lease on the building in 2021. The client team includes Purcell and Focus Consultants.

 The scheme has backing from UK government funding, Colchester City Council, Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The tower, finished in 1883, was designed by borough engineer Charles Clegg and built by Everett & Sons builders of Hythe Hill, Colchester at a cost of £11,138, using 1,250,000 locally produced bricks and 142 tonnes of cast iron. The tank was supplied by AG Mumford, which had an iron foundry of Culver Street in Colchester. Standing 131ft 5in high (40.05 metres), it is the tallest surviving Victorian municipal water tower in England.

Jumbo remained in operation until 1984 when it was decommissioned by Anglian Water. A succession of private owners then proposed schemes for its use until in 2021 it was leased to North Essex Heritage.

Pre-construction work is due to start on-site early July 2025, ahead of main construction work beginning in December 2025.

North Essex Heritage project director Jason Lowe said: “We are pleased to be joining forces with Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects to deliver this remarkable heritage scheme. We look forward to working with a partner who understands what Jumbo means to Colchester and the importance of putting the community at the heart of what we do. Together we will transform this heritage icon to inspire, engage and serve the local community.”

Mike Coleman, operations director of Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects, said: “Our team will be able to call upon years of experience in the heritage sector, leveraging traditional skills to retain the tower’s charm and character while bringing it up to the standards required of a modern-day attraction.”

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